2015–16 Sheffield United F.C. season
# 2015–16 Sheffield United F.C. season

The 2015–16 season was Sheffield United's 127th season in their history and their fifth consecutive season in League One. Along with League One, the club also competed in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

## Season overview

### Pre-season

Following another failed play-off campaign, manager Nigel Clough was sacked with the club board stating "A change in direction was necessary for the forthcoming season." After having an enquiry about Bradford City's Phil Parkinson to succeed Clough, on 2 June Nigel Adkins was installed as Sheffield United's new manager. On 13 July, Diego De Girolamo signed a new two-year contract with the Blades, having initially rejecting a new offer. The following day, United announced the signing of Martyn Woolford on a free-transfer with him committing to Bramall Lane on a two-year deal.

## Transfers

### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 July 2015 | LW | Martyn Woolford | Millwall | Free transfer |
| 25 July 2015 | CF | Billy Sharp | Leeds United | Undisclosed |
| 26 August 2015 | DF | Jake Phillips | Llandudno | |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2015 | CB | Sam Berry | Alfreton Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | CM | Ben Davies | Portsmouth | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | CM | Michael Doyle | Portsmouth | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | MF | Jason Paling | Alfreton Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2015 | MF | Kyle Scarisbrick | Free Agent | Released |
| 1 July 2015 | GK | Iain Turner | Tranmere Rovers | Released |
| 14 August 2015 | CF | Jamie Murphy | Brighton & Hove Albion | £1,500,000 |
| 11 March 2016 | CB | Neill Collins | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Released |

* ↑ Following Berry's release he joined Alfreton Town.
* ↑ Following Davies' release he joined Portsmouth.
* ↑ Following Doyle's release he joined Portsmouth.
* ↑ Following Turner's release he joined Tranmere Rovers.

Total income: £1,500,000

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date until | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 25 July 2015 | CF | | Conor Sammon | Derby County | End of season | |
| 10 August 2015 | CB | | David Edgar | Birmingham City | End of season | |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date until |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 August 2015 | AM | Dominic Calvert-Lewin | Northampton Town | January 2016 |
| 29 August 2015 | AM | David Brooks | FC Halifax Town | 27 September 2015 |
| 29 August 2015 | RW | CJ Hamilton | FC Halifax Town | 27 September 2015 |
| 3 September 2015 | GK | George Willis | Matlock Town | 3 October 2015 |
| 11 September 2015 | DF | Julian Banton | FC Halifax Town | 10 October 2015 |
| 23 September 2015 | CF | Michael Higdon | Oldham Athletic | 19 December 2015 |

### Contracts

New contracts and contract extensions.

| Player | Date | Length | Contracted until |
| - | - | - | - |
| Diego De Girolamo | 13 July 2015 | 2 Year | Summer 2017 |
| Kler Heh | July 2015 | ? | ? |
| Louis Reed | 24 July 2015 | 3 Year | Summer 2018 |
| Che Adams | 25 August 2015 | 3 Year | Summer 2018 |

## Competitions

### Pre-season friendlies

On 4 June 2015, Sheffield United announce they will play Newcastle United for Chris Morgan's testimonial. On 9 June 2015, a confirmed list of the club's pre-season schedule was released.

### League One

**League table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | Gillingham | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 71 | 56 | +15 | 69 |
| 10 | Rochdale | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 68 | 61 | +7 | 69 |
| 11 | Sheffield United | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 64 | 59 | +5 | 66 |
| 12 | Port Vale | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 65 |
| 13 | Peterborough United | 46 | 19 | 6 | 21 | 82 | 73 | +9 | 63 |

**Results by matchday**

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | W | W | W | W | L | L | D | W | D | L | W | D | W | L | L | D | D | L | D | W | W | W | L | D | W | D | D | L | W | L | W | L | L | D | W | L | W | L | W | D | W | W | D | L | L |
| Position | 24 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |

### League Cup

On 16 June 2015, the first round draw was made, Sheffield United were drawn away against Morecambe. In the second round, the Blades were drawn away to Fulham.

### Football League Trophy

On 8 August 2015, live on Soccer AM the draw for the first round of the Football League Trophy was drawn by Toni Duggan and Alex Scott. In the second round draw, made on 5 September 2015, the Blades were drawn at home to Notts County.

